Classifier / Measure Word
What kind of unit are we counting?
含义
A word or marker used with numbers or quantity to classify the noun by shape, type, animacy, function, or measurement unit.
如何识别
Notice whether numbers require an extra word before the noun.
示例
piece|cup|sheet|person|classifier
three cups of water|one piece of paper
I bought three cups of coffee.
Visual guide
counting a noun: number -> unit/class -> noun 3 -> cups -> coffee 1 -> piece -> paper classifier answers: "count as what kind/unit?"
Counting patterns: A) 3 books number + noun B) 3 CL book number + class + noun C) 3 cups of water number + measure + of + noun Ask: required? which class?
语言视角
用母语深入讲解
Classifiers are a core Mandarin coding device with numbers, demonstratives, and many quantity expressions.
那三个人是谁？
nà sān ge rén shì shéi = those three CL people are who?
在所学语言中
英语有 a piece of、a cup of、a bottle of 等计量表达，尤其用于不可数名词或具体单位；但普通可数名词通常不需要量词或分类词。
a piece of advice
piece of 是计量表达，用来把不可数的 advice 当作“一条/一则建议”来数。
母语有量词的学习者可能过度使用量词；其他学习者则容易把 advice、information、furniture 等不可数名词直接加复数或数字。
Usually lighter in your learning language
Do not over-transfer this pattern from your own language. It is often less explicit in your learning language.